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Big beer companies say they’re not just targeting women when it comes to introducing new flavours of beer.

A spokesman for Molson Coors said both sexes are hunting unique tastes when it comes to brews.

“No beer is brewed ‘to target’ men or women, though some might over-index one way or another,” said Debra Kavchak-Taylor of Molson Coors. “We know we’ve found the sweet spot when research tells us new products are enjoyed across a wide range of demographics, male or female, legal drinking age on to later in life.”

However, a report released in August by the Bank of Montreal says otherwise.

Breweries are tapping into the female market because they account for 20% of beer sales.

“Now it’s kind of getting to the point where the major players, major breweries kind of find new markets and new products to try and grow these revenues,” economist Alex Koustas said. “We’ve seen traditionally some brands that have been geared towards males now kind of have these new kind of flavours and varieties tacked on them, so you’ll have Brand X lime, or Brand X iced tea.”

The Brewers Association of Canada said there’s a push to find people whose taste don’t run to conventional ales, pilsners and lagers.

“Coors Lite Iced T or the blueberry or lime beers on the market — they are definitely geared towards attracting a clientele that has not gone traditionally gone to beer,” said association spokesman André Fortin. “You’re seeing the larger brewers become more innovative by offering these products.”